Southdown takes South of England sheep championship

The Southdown breed enjoyed a return to winning ways at today’s South of England Show, with Messrs Wakeham-Dawson and Harmer’s shearling ram taking the interbreed title, a third in four years for the breed at the event.

This one, which stood reserve interbreed at Suffolk and interbreed at Heathfield is by a homebred tup and out of a homebred ewe. He was praised by judge, Charollais breeder Tim Pritchard for his exceptional fleshing throughout and style and ring presence.

Standing reserve was the champion from the Any Other Down Breed section, a Hampshire Down shearling ewe from myself and Chrissie’s Chaileybrook flock. This one, by Owlesbury Xerxes and out of a Pode Hole ewe is one of 15 ewes we run at home alongside the 20 Southdowns. She was bought from Charles and Sally Horrell as a ewe lamb for the foundation of the flock and now heads to the Royal in July.